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Welcome
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Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Spring 2006 |
Albion College’s Department of Theatre and
Dance is a great place to prepare for a career in theatre or
teaching, to continue with an extracurricular interest in
theatre or dance, or just to try something new. The
department offers many ways for students to get involved:
Many Chances to Get On Stage
- All Albion students, whether or not they are theatre
majors, are eligible and encouraged to participate in
the numerous performances put on by the department. Each
year these consist of:
- Four department productions of plays/musicals
- Two student workshops of plays (fall and spring)
- An annual concert of dance
- A touring dance company
- A children’s theatre touring show
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Cabaret, Spring 2005
| Acting/Directing
Robert Starko, Acting/Directing professor,
comes from a background of extensive training in numerous
acting styles, as well as a significant career as a
professional actor. Prof. Starko teaches courses in Acting,
Directing, Vocal Technique and Movement, and a rotating
series of acting styles classes, as well as providing
individual coaching of students outside of class. In
addition, students receive valuable practical training
during the rehearsal process of every show in which they
participate. Not only does the rest of the faculty bring a
diversity of skills and experiences to the process, but the
department also regularly hosts guest directors.
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The Home Team, Fall 2005 |
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Jason Seabacher in the Resto-ration period
comedy The Country Wife, 2004 |
Dramatic Theory,
History, and Criticism
In their academic pursuits, students learn to think
critically and historically about the performance arts
through writing and discussion-based classes. Kelly Bremner
teaches Dramatic Literature, Theatre History and Criticism,
as well as advanced courses in Feminist Theatre,
Drama-in-Education, and Global Perspectives on Youth
Theatre. She is an active scholar with research interests in
Postmodern Theatre, Opera, Musicology and the Theatre, Dance
History, American and European Avant-Garde, and Theatre and
the Child. She also directs a mainstage production for the
department. |
Students Nicole Trachsel and Laura Munson created the set
and lighting designs for Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2006. |
Theatrical Design and Technology
Faculty Scene Designer and Technical Director Mark
Hoffland brings many years of experience to the Herrick stage. He
teaches an introductory course in theatrical design, as well as
upper-level courses in scenic, lighting, and sound design. Advanced
students can look forward to designing for department productions.
Under his direction students work backstage as part of classes, by
volunteering for production jobs, or through work-study.
Choreography and Dance Performance
Dance professor Heather Vaughan-Southard introduces students to the
world of dance through techniques, composition, performance, dance
history, pedagogy, and theory. With the goal of creating well-rounded
artists and thinkers, dance students are exposed to many aspects of the
dance field from performance based experiences to scholarly endeavors.
The dance program includes one mainstage production per year,
highlighting choreography by Heather Vaughan-Southard, regionally and
nationally renowned guest artists and current Albion students. Other
performance opportunities include the Albion Repertory Dance Company as
well as semi-formal performances that take place throughout both
semesters. Students may declare a minor in dance, but do not need to do
so in order to participate in dance events.
Child Come Home, performance piece by guest artist John Parks, 2006.
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